How Curiosity Can Save Your Company, Transform Culture & 5x Your Impact - Jon Bassford

What if the question you’re not asking is costing your company millions? In this episode of Hacks and Hobbies, Junaid sits down with Jon Bassford – an operational change agent and former COO who helped lead a $7M nonprofit out of a downward spiral, 20% revenue growth, and 500% programming growth… all starting from one simple question: “Where is this written?” Jon reveals how curiosity is not a soft skill – it’s an operational strategy. From uncovering broken systems buried in conference manuals to turning every team member into a daily “auditor” of their own work, Jon shows how leaders can build cultures where people don’t just do their jobs… they improve them. If you’re a founder, operator, or leader who wants sustainable growth, deeper engagement, and a culture that actually thinks – this episode is your roadmap. 5 Big Takeaways Curiosity is an operational weapon – Jon shows how a single curious question unlocked 20% revenue growth and 500% more programming. 95% of your day is on autopilot – and why that’s dangerous for strategy, innovation, and culture if left unchecked. Make improvement part of the job description – how to turn every employee into a micro-innovator, not just a task executor. Culture starts with how you treat people, not what you write in manuals – why knowing what your team loves to do leads to fewer errors, higher engagement, and longer retention. Small reflections create big transformations – the 5–10 minute habit Jon recommends to compound efficiency and impact over time. Timestamps 00:00 – The question that changed a $7M nonprofitHow Jon’s discomfort with “this isn’t written anywhere” exposed a buried process and transformed an entire organization. 02:42 – Why 95% of your thoughts are on autopilot (and what that does to your business)Jon breaks down subconscious habits, SOPs, and how comfort quietly kills innovation. 04:51 – Turning curiosity into company strategyThe simple shift: making “improve your job” a formal part of everyone’s role. 06:04 – Building psychological safety for real feedbackWhy one-on-ones, genuine interest, and understanding what people love to do change everything. Guest Links jonbassford.comhttps://www.instagram.com/jon_bassfordhttps://www.youtube.com/@JonBassford 🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.